Obama’s 23 Executive Orders on Gun Control

There are just a few but major problems with Obama’s program of gun control released on January 16, 2013.

First of all, the executive orders are impressive in number — 23 — but the effect of each of them on mass shootings past of future is ZERO. None of these things would have caught a past shooter before his rampage, and none will catch the next one in time. All they will do is inhibit if not outright prohibit LAW ABIDING citizens from exercising their right and their freedom to secure their safety as they see fit.

The other problem is that these rather timid executive orders are totally out of sync with the radical intentions, goals and programs announced in the press release and in the more full statement of the agenda, the PDF file released by the White House, such as a ban high capacity magazines or guns based on style, or the outright silly proposals such as putting a thousand “resource officers” and counselors in our tens of thousands of schools. Anything — except simple common sense, such as armed and trained teachers and other school personnel.

The third problem is that the actual full text of these 23 executive orders can not (yet) be found in the Federal Register, and so all the commentary in the media are a reaction to the propaganda sheet released by the White House.

The fourth problem of course is that any and all of the proposed measures amount to a direct violation of the Second Amendment, and therefore are blatantly illegal and unconstitutional. It’s not what one would expect from a wise leader, it’s not what we’d expect from a man we elect to be president, to keep a cool head and to provide sane and sober leadership through our times of crisis. But other than all that, the emotional, irrational reaction to a tragedy is perfectly understandable.

The question this time and always comes back to, what part of “shall not be infringed” don’t you understand? What part of the well documented original intent don’t you understand? It’s there, in the minutes of the deliberations of the Constitutional Convention and in the many writings of the original authors. It’s there in the historical record. It’s there in the latest decisions of the Supreme Court. The simple truths are well tested and well proven throughout human history, from the earliest uprisings against tyranny to the latest successful self-defense against an attacker. Just how thick a skull, just how dull a brain, does it take not see and not understand something so simple?

1. Issue a Presidential Memorandum to require federal agencies to make relevant data available to the federal background check system.
Administrative.
The only relevant question here is, do we STILL have a problem with federal agencies sharing information? Still, I’d rather NOT see them share information relating to ownership of firearms, unless there is a solid reason similar to the “probable cause” required to get a search warrant.
Effect on mass shootings, past or future: none.

2. Address unnecessary legal barriers, particularly relating to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, that may prevent states from making information available to the background check system.
Legislative, therefore illegal. The president can not make law by executive order.
The prohibition on doctors disclosing patient’s answers to gun-related questions is written into obamacare. Congress has to change the language in the obamacaer law to support this executive order. Good luck with that as long as the House is Republican — unless of course enough moderates and RINOs go over to the dark side.
Effect on mass shootings, past or future: none.

3. Improve incentives for states to share information with the background check system.
Legislative, therefore illegal. The president can not make law by executive order.
“Incentives” mean “money,” either the giving or withholding of it. Both require action in the budget, which is a bill that must originate in the House.
Effect on mass shootings, past or future: none.

4. Direct the Attorney General to review categories of individuals prohibited from having a gun to make sure dangerous people are not slipping through the cracks.
Administrative.
I’m just dying to see the AG include in his list veterans, militia members, church goers, gun owners, Republicans, TEA partiers, conservative bloggers, right-to-life and gun-rights protesters. All these people were identified by the DHS as potential domestic terrorists…
Effect on mass shootings, past or future: none.

5. Propose rulemaking to give law enforcement the ability to run a full background check on an individual before returning a seized gun.
Administrative.
What the heck is the difference between a background check and a “full background check,” anyway? What is the probable cause, and what other violations of your civil rights will this new rule entail?
Effect on mass shootings, past or future: none.

6. Publish a letter from ATF to federally licensed gun dealers providing guidance on how to run background checks for private sellers.
Administrative.
Never mind that this makes NO sense at all. How is a DEALER supposed to find out about a PRIVATE transaction between two PRIVATE individuals? The seller would have to WANT to run the background check, the buyer would obviously know and have to agree, which means that only already law abiding individuals would be involved in the transaction, so what is the point? CRIMINALS would NOT be involved in this.
Effect on mass shootings, past or future: none.

7. Launch a national safe and responsible gun ownership campaign.
Administrative.
Also known as DEMONIZE gun ownership and gun owners in a propaganda campaign. Obama’s cronies in the media need an infusion of federal dollars?
Effect on mass shootings, past or future: none.

8. Review safety standards for gun locks and gun safes (Consumer Product Safety Commission).
Administrative.
What? Safe MAKERS don’t know how to build safes? The Feds have to have a standard for EVERYTHING… And what the heck does SAFETY have to do with GUNS? Guns ARE dangerous… by design… they meet the product standard when they FIRE… without blowing up in your hand…
Effect on mass shootings, past or future: none.

9. Issue a Presidential Memorandum to require federal law enforcement to trace guns recovered in criminal investigations.
Administrative.
But what manner of idiocy is THIS? Don’t the police already DO that, as a matter of routine? It is one thing to assume — rightly — that the Obama voters are a bunch of IDIOTS, by definition, but to express the same arrogance toward the POLICE is reaching for new lows even for this administration.
Effect on mass shootings, past or future: none.

10. Release a DOJ report analyzing information on lost and stolen guns and make it widely available to law enforcement.
Administrative.
Some poor paper pusher gets to see the results of his make-work project published. I can hardly wait.
Effect on mass shootings, past or future: none.

12. Provide law enforcement, first responders, and school officials with proper training for active shooter situations.
Administrative.
My GOD, after all this time they STILL don’t know how to respond? Don’t anybody watch TV anymore? Aren’t there enough directors among Obama’s Hollywood cronies to ask THEM if the expertise is lacking in the law enforcement agencies?
Effect on mass shootings, past or future: none.

13. Maximize enforcement efforts to prevent gun violence and prosecute gun crime.
Administrative.
Four terms BADLY need precise definition. What do you mean, “maximize,” or “prevent,” or “gun violence,” or “gun crime,” Kimosabe?
Are we talking about 100% CONFISCATION of all guns from all citizens? If so, we are talking about a constitutional amendment, not an executive order.
Effect on mass shootings, past or future: none.

14. Issue a Presidential Memorandum directing the Centers for Disease Control to research the causes and prevention of gun violence.
Administrative.
But actually, this is just a direct challenge to the provision in obamacare (cited above) which PROHIBITS the collection of gun-related data by health care providers, and a backdoor attempt to circumvent that provision.
The prevention part SHOULD be obvious and an easy solution by executive order — simply direct all government and law enforcement agencies at all levels to eliminate “gun free zones.” Allow citizens to freely exercise their Second Amendment rights without any interference from any level of government.
Effect on mass shootings, past or future: none.

15. Direct the Attorney General to issue a report on the availability and most effective use of new gun safety technologies and challenge the private sector to develop innovative technologies.
Administrative.
It should take him no more than 5 minutes on Google.
HOWEVER, ideas such as biometric trigger locks are NOT a good idea. If a home invader shoots you, and your wife has a chance to retrieve your gun, you’d want her to shoot back and not be stifled by a stupid interlock tuned to your biometrics, not hers.
Effect on mass shootings, past or future: none.

16. Clarify that the Affordable Care Act does not prohibit doctors asking their patients about guns in their homes.
Legislative, therefore illegal. The president can not make law by executive order.
Anyway, ha, ha. The joke’s on you. “You have to pass it to find out what’s in it.” Well, you found out… See no. 2 above.
Effect on mass shootings, past or future: none.

17. Release a letter to health care providers clarifying that no federal law prohibits them from reporting threats of violence to law enforcement authorities.
Administrative.
But think it through. WHAT patient would EVER confide in his doctor that he has murderous thoughts, if he really DOES want to go through with it, knowing that the doctor is under OBLIGATION to report him? Again, only the law-abiding, good-willed patient would do that, and the real target, the CRIMINALLY INSANE, would NOT be caught up in this stratagem.
Effect on mass shootings, past or future: none.

18. Provide incentives for schools to hire school resource officers.
Legislative, therefore illegal. The president can not make law by executive order.
“Incentives” mean “money,” either the giving or withholding of it. Both require action in the budget, which is a bill that must originate in the House. This is just another gimmick to make education still more expensive, by forcing schools to hire even more non-teaching personnel.
Effect on mass shootings, past or future: none.

19. Develop model emergency response plans for schools, houses of worship and institutions of higher education.
Administrative.
Again, no one but the feds know how to do anything, and the rest of us are MORONS who need Big Brother and the Nanny State to take care of us.
Effect on mass shootings, past or future: none.

20. Release a letter to state health officials clarifying the scope of mental health services that Medicaid plans must cover.
Administrative.
Again, yet another gimmick to make health care more and more expensive, and this time passing the costs down in the form of more unfunded mandates. Aren’t we going broke fast enough with the unfunded mandates we’re committed to already?
Effect on mass shootings, past or future: none.

21. Finalize regulations clarifying essential health benefits and parity requirements within ACA exchanges.
Administrative.
This has NOTHING to do with “gun control.” Just another excuse to advance the obamacare agenda, and again to push more unfunded mandates down onto the States.
Effect on mass shootings, past or future: none.

22. Commit to finalizing mental health parity regulations.
Administrative.
This has NOTHING to do with “gun control.” Just another excuse to advance the obamacare agenda, and again to push more unfunded mandates down onto the States.
Effect on mass shootings, past or future: none.

23. Launch a national dialogue led by Secretaries Sebelius and Duncan on mental health.
Administrative.
This has NOTHING to do with “gun control.” It’s ironic that he’s pick two of the most insanely left-wing cabinet members to lead a discussion on mental health.
Effect on mass shootings, past or future: none.

Going to war with Libya without Congressional consultation is enough to impeach Obama.
These orders sound like common sense to me; #23: mass shootings have generally been committed by mentally unstable and/or medicated for mental health issues. It is a wise approach to prevention of SOME possible acts of violence. Having said that, you guys hang on to the second amendment! Something is not right, here!

“Common sense gun control”? Puh-leeze… What part of “the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed” is open to interpretation? What is “common sense” about trying to invent schemes and excuses to infringe? No one who has followed the efforts of state legislatures and Congress to apply “common sense” can fail conclude that any effort to do so has only raised serious practical and legal problems. The bottom line is that you can only punish people for what they have DONE, not for what they MIGHT do, not for what they THINK, and certainly not for being ILL. There will always be bad or sick people, some even might attack you, and always when seconds count, the police are minutes away — which means that the government has no right to infringe upon your God-given right of self defense.